IRS chief in the hot seat, Ohio groups center stage at hearing

5:50 AM,
May 18, 2013

Written by

Deirdre Shesgreen
Gannett Washington Bureau

- Outgoing IRS Commissioner Steve Miller defended himself and the federal tax agency under intense grilling from House lawmakers Friday, saying the IRS' targeting of conservative groups was not politically motivated but rather "foolish mistakes" made by "people trying to be efficient."

Miller told members of the House Ways and Means Committee that he did not mislead Congress, even though he and other top IRS officials failed to tell lawmakers that IRS workers in Cincinnati had flagged tax-exempt applications from tea party and similar organizations for special scrutiny.